1724
(rev. 2/6/98)

Personal: BF continued living and boarding with the Reads until April. From April to June, he visited Boston, trying (at the suggestion of Pennsylvania's governor Sir William Keith) to borrow money from his father to set up a printing business in Philadelphia. Josiah thought him too young, advised him to save his money until he was 21, and said that then "if I came near the Matter he would help me out with the rest." In a cancelled passage, BF added that his father explain'd "he had advan'd too much already to my Brother James" (A30). BF returned to Philadelphia, stopping at Newport and New York, where his childhood friend John Collins awaited him. New York's Gov William Burnet, hearing that a young man had a large number of books on shipboard, invited Franklin to call. Franklin would have taken Collins along, but he was not sober. Collins traveled to Philadelphia with Franklin, but could not find a job, and continually borrowed from Franklin until he sailed for the West Indies. By the time Franklin and Collins reached Philadelphia, Keimer had purchased furniture, so Franklin and Collins roomed with him. In his Autobiography, BF related anecdotes of Keimer (A 35-36) and characterized his young friends, relating the story of their poetry contest (A37-39). Gov. Keith volunteered to loan Franklin the money to set up a printing shop and advised him to sail to London to purchase the materials and to arrange for the exchange of letters and newspapers. Meanwhile, BF courted Deborah Read, but her mother thought it "prudent ... to prevent our going too far at present, as a marriage if it was to take place would be more convenient after my Return, when I should be as I expected set up in my Business" (A37). So BF and Deborah "interchang'd some Promises" (A40) before he sailed for London on 5 November with his friend James Ralph. BF understood that Keith had given Captain Annis letters of credit for him to buy types, a printing press, and other materials in London. BF and Ralph arrived in London on 24 Dec. They may well have stayed for a day or two while finding suitable lodging at the Pennsylvania Coffee House, which was located in Birchin Lane.

Business: Keimer printed fourteen imprints in 1724 (or to 25 March 1724/5), but the only one we can be certain that BF printed is Thomas Woolston's Free Gift to the Clergy (14 Jan). BF would have been especially interested in the writings of the infamous deist Woolston. On the other hand, the only Keimer imprint BF positively did not set in type was Keith's proclamation, 28 May, for BF was in Boston at that time. Most of these religious tracts would have bored BF, but Trenchard and Gordon's The Independent Whig would have greatly interested him. Since, however, it was the Couranteers' favorite London periodical and since BF himself quoted from it in both "Silence Dogood" Nos 8 and 9, he had probably already read the series. The only evidence concerning its publication date is that it is advertised in William Dell's Baptismon Didaches. (See the year-end for an alphabetical list of Keimer's 1724 imprints.)

Background: When BF went to London in 1724, the city was still economically depressed as a result of the South Sea bubble (1720). The London Gazette of 29 Dec 1724, continued the notice that first appeared two weeks earlier: "The Trustees appointed by Act of Parliament for Raising Money out of the Estates of the late Directors of the South-Sea Company and others give Notice, That they intend to expose to Sale to the best Bidder, in the Hall of the South Sea House, on Wednesday the 20th Day of Jan next the several Estates following." Notices of bankruptcy filled the paper for the next several months.

Chronology:

6 Jan, Monday, BF became 18.

14 Jan Tuesday, AWM: "Just Publish'd. and sold by Samuel Keimer in the High Street near the Market House in Philadelphia." Thomas Woolston, A Free Gift to the Clergy; Or the Hireling Priests (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X64; Evans 2597. No. 14 in the list at the end of the year.

14 Jan (b). AWM advertised: "Also, The Curiosities of Common Water: Or the Advangages thereof in Preventing and Curing many Distempers. Written by John Smith, C.M. To which are added, some Rules for preserving Health by DIET." (Philadelphia: Keimer, 1723), See 1723.

4 Feb, Tuesday, James Franklin and Ann Smith were married by the Rev. John Webb of the New North Church. RRC 28:113. P 1:lix has 1723 instead of 1723/4. Tourtellot 428, n.68, corrected the date. Shipton 5:466 pointed out that the Rev. John Webb (Harvard 1708) was "further to the ecclesiastical right and the political left than were his patrons." For Webb, see 20 Oct 1714.

April to June, BF visited Boston

In the Autobiography, Franklin reported that he visited Boston in the spring of 1724: "About the End of April 1724, a Little Vessel offer'd for Boston. ... We struck on a Shoal in going down the Bay and sprung a Leak, we had a blustring time at Sea, and were oblig'd to pump almost continually, at which I took my Turn. We arriv'd safe however at Boston in about a Fortnight" (A29). The only certain information regarding the trip is that BF signed a promissory note in Boston on 5 May. I chronicle all the pertinent information from the newspapers concerning ships sailing from Philadelphia in April and arriving in Boston in April and early May. My best guess is that BF sailed to Boston on the sloop Endeavour, Captain Richard Robinson, leaving Philadelphia about 6 April and arriving in Boston before 27 April. I also record ships sailing from Boston in May and early June, and all the ships arriving in Philadelphia from May through June. In addition, I list all the references to BF's brother-in-law Robert Homes in the papers during these three months, because BF mentioned his father consulting Homes about the proposal (A30). I should add, however, that the newspapers are not entirely accurate or complete about the comings and goings of the ships, as a comparison of two newspapers' reporting will demonstrate.

In Boston, BF visited his brother James who took offense at Franklin's display of prosperity (A29-30). BF also called on Cotton Mather (as BF recalled, writing Samuel Mather, 12 May 1784; S 9:209). Before early June, he returned to Philadelphia on a sloop sailing by way of Rhode Island. My best guess for the return trip is that BF sailed from Boston on the Sloop Diamond, Captain John Perkin, which left Boston for Rhode Island before 5 June and reached Philadelphia before 11 June. His childhood friend John Collins went overland to meet him in New York. In Newport, RI, BF saw his brother John and took Samuel Vernon's note for some money due Vernon in Pennsylvania (A31). In New York he met his friend John Collins and Gov. William Burnet (A32-33) before sailing back to Philadelphia.

2 April, AWM: the sloop Endeavour, Captain Richard Robinson, entered outwards for Boston. Cf. 16 April.

13 April, Monday. NEC: Entered inwards, Solley from Pennsilvania; outward bound, Holmes [Homes] for North Carolina (cf. 4 May).

16 April, Thursday, AWM: Under dateline London, Dec 12.: "The Famous Mr. Riddlesden an Attorney, a Prisoner in Newgate, that we have so often mentioned, (he was some Years ago Transported into Maryland) was carried to the King's Bench Bar, and admitted to Bail, on Condition to Transport himself within four Months, for seven Years into one of his Majesties Plantations in America, himself being bound for that Purpose in 500£. and his four Securities in 250£ each." BF exposed a scheme between Gov. Keith and Riddlesden against Andrew Hamilton (A41-42). Cf. 25 June.

16 April (b). AWM: "Cleared for Departure" the sloop Endeavour, Captain Richard Robinson for Boston. Cf. 2 and 27 April.

23 April, BNL: Nath. Marsters from Pensilvania, entered inwards.

27 April, NEC: Robinson and Marston from Philadelphia, "Entered Inwards."

4 May, Monday. NEC: Cleared out: "Holmes [Homes] for South Carolina." Therefore Holmes, contrary to BF's recollection in the Autobiography, was in Boston when BF arrived there. Cf. A30.

5 May, Tuesday. BF's note of payment to the bookseller John Phillips. Dated "Boston May 5th 1724." P 1:53. Note: Although the Yale editors were uncertain of the number "5," I have examined the original at PHi and 5 May is correct. Further, both the old nineteenth-century catalogue card at PHi and the facsimile of the document published in 1899 confirm 5 May. PMHB 23 (1899):396.

14 May, Thursday. BNL: "Outward Bound": Mat. Bant for Philadelphia.

15 May, Friday. Proclamation--By Sir William Keith, Bart., [of an agreement between Lord Baltimore, Hannah Penn, and the Trustees of Pennsylvania] (Philadelphia: [S. Keimer], 1724). Campbell X63.

21 May, Monday. BNL: "Outward Bound": Rich. Robertson for Rhode Island and Connecticut.

28 May, Monday. Keith, William. New-Castle upon Delaware, May 28, 1724. This being the anniversary of His Majesty's Birth-Day, etc. (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X61; E2542.

28 May (b). BNL: Richard Robertson "cleared out" for Rhode Island and Connecticut.

5 June, Under Rhode Island, the BNL recorded Isaac Quintard and John Wildman entered inwards from Boston; cleared out, John Perkin for Philadelphia. Nothing under Boston.

18 June, Thursday, AWM noted: "Entered Inwards: Sloop Mary, Robert Homes from N. Castle." Homes came up from South Carolina (see 20 July NEC).

18 June (b). BNL: Under RI, entered inwards: "Tho. Sturgis, Jos. Gorham, James Cahoone, Nich. Bragg from Boston." Under Boston: Cleared out, John Davis for N.port and Connecticut; outward bound, Edm. Berry for Philadelphia.

25 June, Thursday, AWM: "The Noted--Mr. Riddlesdon an Attorney, as he call's himself formerly Transported into Maryland, and Married there, went for England, Married a great Fortune there, after that was taken up and Committed to Newgate, and ordered a second Transportation, he has been Noted in several English Prints, is now Arriv'd in this Province, when he was here before he went by the name of Van Riddlesden, but now call's himself Cornwallis." Cf. 16 April.

Only one ship entered Philadelphia from the northern coasts in June, 1724: "Sloop Diamond, John Perkin from Rhode Island" (June 11). On 2 July, the AWM reported that the sloop Endeavour, Richard Robinson, from Boston, had entered port.

Late June? Back in Philadelphia, BF and John Collins probably lodged with Keimer (A33; Roach 133), next door to John Read's house, at the site of the present 318 Market St.

9 July, Thursday, AWM: Cleared for departure: "Sloop Mary, Robert Homes for New-Castle on Delaware."

2 Sept, Wednesday. John Read, father of Deborah, died. Christ Church tombstone recorded: "In Memory of / JOHN READ / Who Departed This Life/ Sept ye 2, 1724, / Aged 47 years."

4 Sept, Friday, 1724. John Read's will proved. 10 pp. City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Wills.

Early fall, Collins left for Barbados, perhaps on the sloop Speedwell, Captain Thomas Hunt, which the AWM listed as cleared for departure on Aug 27, 1724; or perhaps on the Snow Smith, John Datracot, for Barbados, which the AWM listed as entering on Oct 29.

15 Oct, Thursday, 1724, Keimer advertised for sale "A Choice Parcel of curious and valuable Books."

c. 3 Nov, Tuesday. James Logan to John Penn: Logan had accompanied Andrew Hamilton to New Castle, where Logan wrote John Penn that at the last minute Hamilton was called back by a fee of £300 to plead for Captain Lee's ship. Ms., PHi.

5 Nov, Thursday, AWM: "On Monday the 2d of this instant Andrew Hamilton, Esq. our late Attorney General for this Province, set out from this Town, in order to Embark on board Capt. Annis for London, and was Accompaanied so far as the Ferry, with some of the Chief of our Town, with about 70 Horse." The same paper listed "Ship London Hope, Thomas Annis to London" as "Cleared for Departure." At the last minute Andrew Hamilton was recalled to Philadelphia, thus providing room for BF and James Ralph in the great cabin. A40.

5 Nov (b). BF sailed for London aboard the London Hope with James Ralph, iron mongers Stephen Onion and Thomas Russell, and merchant Thomas Denham (A40), expecting to purchase printing equipment with letters of credit from Governor William Keith.

16 Nov, Monday, Captain Thomas Smith in the ship Beaver cleared NY for London, with Andrew Hamilton aboard. AWM 19 Nov.

London, Dec 24, 1724 to July 21, 1726

24 Dec, Thursday, BF arrived in London and found that Governor Keith, with "no credit to give," had duped him and sent no letters. He asked Thomas Denham's advice, who suggested he go to work as a printer. A41. BF and Ralph may well have stayed for a day or two at the Pennsylvania Coffee House while looking for suitable lodgings. (Lillywhite, London Coffee Houses, no. 985, pp. 444-45.)

Late Dec, BF found employment at Samuel Palmer's printing office, Bartholomew Close, London. He and Ralph took lodgings in Little Britain, an alley in midtown London (A42-43), next door to the bookseller John Wilcox, from whom he borrowed books to continue his self-education (A43).

Keimer imprints, 1724:

1. An Account of the Aprehending, Tryal and Condemnation of two Grand Criminals, namely, Idleness and Pride (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X52; Evans 2497.

2. Bockett, Elias. A Determination of the Case of Mr. Thomas Story and Mr. James Hoskins (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Folio; pp. 3. Campbell X53; Evans 2502.

3. Crisp, Stephen. A Short History of a Long Travel, from Babylon to Bethel (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X54; Evans 2518. Only a fragment extant.

4. Dell, William. Baptismon Didaches: Or the Doctrine of Baptisms Reduced from its Ancient and Modern Corruptions. Fourth edition (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X55; Evans 2522.

5. A Dialogue betwixt a Burgomaster of Rotterdam, and Monsieur Jurieu (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X56; Evans 2523. Known only from an advertisement in Francis Rawle, Ways and Means (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1725); E2697.

6. A Dialogue betwixt a Learned Divine and a Beggar (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X57; E2524. Known only from an advertisement in Francis Rawle, Ways and Means (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1725); Evans 2697.

7. Distinct Notions of the Plague (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X58; Evans 2527. Known only from an advertisement in Francis Rawle, Ways and Means (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1725); E2697.

8. Gibson, William. The Farrier's Dispensatory (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X59; Evans 2535. Known only from an advertisement in Francis Rawle, Ways and Means (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1725); E2697.

9. Gordon, Thomas and John Trenchard. The Independent Whig Nos. 1-53, 10 Jan 1719/20 to 4 Jan 1720/1 (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X60; Evans 2537.

10. Keith, William . New-Castle upon Delaware, May 28, 1724. This being the anniversary of His Majesty's Birth-Day, etc. (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X61; Evans 2542.

11. A Letter from the Presbyterian Ministers of the Association about Boston to the Baptists at Providence (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X62; Evans 2503. Known only from an advertisement in no. 9 above, The Independent Whig, p. 44.

12. Penn, Hannah. Letter of Instructions to Sir William Keith, for the Government of Pennsylvania [Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724]. No Campbell; Evans 2576.

13. Pennsylvania. Province. By Sir William Keith, Bart. ... A Proclamation [of an agreement between Lord Baltimnore, Hannah Penn, and the Trustees of Pennsylvania ... Dated May 15th, 1724] ([Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724]). Campbell X63; E2577.

14. Woolston, Thomas. A Free Gift to the Clergy; Or the Hireling Priests (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1724). Campbell X64; E2597. See 14 Jan.